Losing Ticket becomes big winner

Visiting Esperance trainer Melda Daniels enjoyed a breakthrough success at the Mt Barker Turf Club last Friday, training only her second winner in six years of holding a licence.

Losing Ticket was racing first up since running second last in the Esperance Cup in March and plunged in betting from $40 to $9.50 by the time they jumped.

Jockey Andrew Castle settled his mount midfield before pulling Losing Ticket out three deep from the 600m, levelling up with favourite So Great in the home straight and then pulling away in the closing stages to win the Jeff Taylor Handicap (1850m) by almost half a length.

Daniels said this was the highlight of her training career.

“I never wanted to be a trainer but after my husband passed away, we had that many horses, I had no option but to take them on,” an emotional Daniels said.

“This win means everything to me.

“I have been training for six years and this is only my second-ever winner. My other winner was at Norseman.”

Making the long float trip with only one runner was worthwhile and Daniels said she might return to the Great Southern again.

“We travelled over from Esperance on Thursday morning, leaving about 8am and arriving 4pm, so it was a long trip,” she said.

“It was certainly worth the drive over and the trip home is going to be a lot better, knowing we have a winner.

“I have a program written out for the horse. We will just continue to travel to Mt Barker and Albany and stay in Esperance as well.”

Castle brought up a double in race four after he guided favourite Loki home to win the Steve Caporn Handicap (1300m) by 0.2 lengths.

Loki settled fourth in running and charged to the front in the straight before digging deep late to hold out Ayasha and fast-finishing Miss Pins. Castle was fined $150 for using his whip on two more occasions than permitted before the 100m mark aboard Losing Ticket.